Memphis firefighter arrested after fire in his Southaven home

2011-08-01T21:07:00Z2011-08-01T22:38:27Z

William Land

(WMC-TV) - A Memphis firefighter and his son were arrested over the weekend after a fire broke out in their Southaven home.

According to Chief Tom Long of the Southaven Police Department, Memphis Firefighter William Land and his 14-year-old son are both charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with the fire department.

"Officers were contacted by the fire personnel that the owner of the residence would not come out of the house, and they needed him removed from the residence," Long said.

The father and son were taken into custody early Saturday morning after a fire broke out at their Southaven home in the 5000 block of Kuykendall.

"His son was arrested a few minutes later resulting from the same type of activity, that was interfering with a fire department," Long said.

Investigators aren't saying what sparked the fire. However, Long explained what led to the firefighter's arrest.

"To my knowledge there was no physical altercation. He just refused to leave and was taken into custody," he said.

Monday, Land declined Action News 5's request for an interview.

"In that situation, a crisis situation like that, I guess you never know how someone is going to act at that time," Long said. "He may have honestly felt he was being of help to the fire department, since he is a firefighter in Memphis."